Arizona finally sorted out Jacoby Brissett's contract situation, but in all likelihood he remains nothing more than a stopgap. The rebuilding Cardinals could, and should, be looking ahead to finding that long-term solution in the 2027 NFL Draft, whether that's Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Darian Mensah, or someone else entirely.
But what if a surprising free-agent solution emerges to get them back to playoff relevancy more quickly?
Cardinals would be an attractive landing spot for Baker Mayfield
Josh Crysler of The Pewter Plank recently named the Cardinals as a team that makes sense as a potential landing spot for Baker Mayfield should he ultimately decide to enter free agency, highlighting the attractive landing spot given the plethora of offensive weapons he'd have at his disposal.
"Between his natural fit in Arizona's scheme, the top-shelf weapons that would be at his disposal, and Arizona's pressing need for a quarterback, the Cardinals could quietly become one of the most attractive landing spots for Mayfield if he and the Buccaneers are unable to reach a long-term agreement next offseason,"Â Crysler writes.
The Buccaneers weren't able to reach an extension with Mayfield before the start of training camp, opening the door for a potential departure after he plays out the 2026 season. As Crysler notes, the two sides are expected to eventually reach an agreement.
But the Cardinals should absolutely be monitoring this situation; if a deal doesn't materialize, Mayfield would be a dream addition to this offense.
Baker Mayfield would instantly make Cardinals a playoff threat
It could be a win-win scenario as Mayfield gets an upgrade in pass catchers following Mike Evans' departure to the San Francisco 49ers, while the Cardinals get the missing piece to finally become the lethal offense they've envisioned after investing such coveted picks into skill positions.
If he does enter free agency, Arizona could make it work financially, seeing as they currently have $34.8 million in cap space. But from Tampa Bay's standpoint, it could make sense to trade Mayfield, depending on how this season starts.
If signs point towards missing the postseason and Mayfield potentially leaving, it could be in their best interest to proactively trade him to get future assets rather than letting him walk for nothing. If that is the case, Arizona should be far more hesitant to sacrifice assets, particularly when it comes to their upcoming draft picks. A potential No. 1 overall pick like Arch Manning would align far better with their rebuilding timeline than a 31-year-old Mayfield.
But should the gritty signal-caller decide to take his talents elsewhere after the season, the Cardinals could have a golden opportunity to solve their ongoing quarterback problem, making them playoff threats as soon as next season.
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